This is horrible. Police shoot a young moose, the second, a few week apart. Appartanly they called different organizations for help, which I don't believe. Now the City of Ottawa is hiring a Wildlife Specialist to deal with wildlife issues from now on.

And they're going to bury the poor thing making the whole episode a complete waste. When my OH was a C.O. the meat from large animal fresh roadkill went to a local zoo and the hides went to a co-op that used the leather. I've heard the zoos are much more particular about their food sources these days though.

I think they are burying it because some members of the public would freak, if they were to actually use the meat, etc. However, as sad as this poor animal had to die..they might as well use the meat for instance, like you said..for zoos. I don't see why they wouldn't. It is after all moose meat. Very healthy. Geesh I know the African Lion Safari uses horse meat to feed their animals. So I don't understand why moose meat would be a problem. Much healthy for the animals, then horse meat. But on a side note and a little off topic here...but African Lion Safari doesn't operate well, and should really be shut down.

If they could even take the carcass out to the bush somewhere and leave it for wild scavengers to clean up that would at least be a use and sort of in keeping with nature. But I suppose there would be a hue and cry about that too. Not to mention the red tape involved in taking it from the NCC to either Ontario or Quebec.

in all honestly the Humane Society would not have been able to do anything. They could have assisted the police, but they don't have the equpiment to handle wildlife that large. Fish and wildife department should have been called. Hence, why the city is hiring a wildlife specialist.

As for OMNR, when it comes to wildlife issues it is a joke and in all seriousiness, wildlife issues are last priority. They are more into making a profit.

As regards MNR you need to look a little more deeply. Yes, the old schoolers are about to retire. Then we will lose years, decades of experience and dedication. MNR used to be the one ministry that was said to have staff who worked there because folks loved what they did. Thanks to people who vote with their own financial interests foremost in their pocket books (can't fault them for that) MNR took among the biggest hits when layoffs started in mass in 1996.

Because there was no funding MNR closed tree nurseries. Now we have Trees Ontario, a private consortium, bragging about planting a pitance of what MNR used to. C.O.s sometimes don't have money to put gas in their cruisers. For years C.O.s took their cruisers home so they could respond immediately. Now they have to drive to the office first.

MNR does not make a profit. That's a ridiculous statement. No govt. office does. Any money from driver's licenses or fishing licenses, oops not those, they are not allowed to sell them now, goes into McGuinty's pot. From there he disperses and not in the percentage in which it came.

MNR has always been at loggerheads with the agencies who do make a profit or who have big business vested behind them. The Alonquin Forest Authority, private campgrounds, Anglers and Hunters. Here the local office is not allowed to sell fishing licenses because private contrators do it and it would be a conflict with them, they use it to draw business in.

Plus MNR has a conflicted mandate of opposing interests.

MNR is a joke. Everybody who has retired (including me) and those unfortunates who haven't yet say so. They want to do their job. There is no money. Staff cuts may mean one person is now doing the job and covering the area of 3.

It's very, very sad. If you want to see wildlife issues addressed, and forestry protected and the double extended turkey hunt amended, talk to your MP. Try to gain support from other voters. Got to the source of the problem. If you don't, you'll just end up working in the same atmosphere as exists now.

How long did you work with MNR? I am going by what I have been told (from professors who used to work with mnr) and from what I have witnessed. for instance one: While up North came across a truck full to the prim of skinned animals, everything was still intact, just skinned. It was obvious that it was a work of a poacher. Called MNR, was told yeah...we can't do anything and left it at that. Didn't care and couldn't be bothered coming out to investigate. Also Geesh you email mnr or call them about an issue, and 95% they don't even return emails and or phone calls.

I'm not saying that your statements are inaccurate. Sometimes that is the case.

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Didn't care and couldn't be bothered coming out to investigate.

It's statements like this that slam the staff that bother me. While neither the OH nor I still work at MNR friends do and they care deeply. It's management, directed by their funding allocation, directed by govt. higher up, directed by the voters who control activity with the ministry. I wish people knew just how deeply the funding cuts affected MNR. Our local office sometimes has barely enough money to run a green and white once a week. That's why they can't come out.

Is moral down? Sure it is. It is hard to sit by and see a job you love and believe in go down the drain because healthcare and education get the bigger nod. Yet you need the job to feed your family. You need healthcare and education for them too. Unless you are in upper management don't think you'll be able to change the system from within.

I figured your profs might have worked for MNR. In 1981 when layoffs started (but most of the public did not know it yet) and I was laid off, those people were probably among the ones called "rats deserting the sinking ship" by a manager in my office. What could they do though? The sad thing is from your description they are not attacking the source of the problem, which is not the lower case lackey who works in the local office.

As to unreturned contact I can't speak to that. I've not had a problem. I reported a hunting infraction this spring and the C.O. contacted me right away and went to the area. He does know me though. I was told that they can't do anything unless they catch the perpetrator in action. Your local police are likely to tell you the same thing if you report many concerns. I agree, it is not right, but I understand they worry it might be a fabricated report by, say, a neighbour with a grudge.

Sorry that my comment bothered, however i stand behind it. If funding is the issue, then think of alternatives, just don't let the issues/complaints rise and still do nothing about it. If they can't do the job, then it seems it should be passed onto an organization that can and will. OMNR has frustated me to no end, with their lack of ability to even want to help and or assist..hence why when I am done school, I will be looking for work outside of the province. They are no longer respected and will take years to get back to that status.

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Originally Posted by Longblades

Your local police are likely to tell you the same thing if you report many concerns. I agree, it is not right, but I understand they worry it might be a fabricated report by, say, a neighbour with a grudge.

That and CO's...While I know some people like to facricated a report, it still has to taken seriously. You can't assume a report is blown out of proportion. When I worked as an Animal Protection Officer, I would receive calls, that yes, they did seem a little far fetched, however again every call has to be looked into and followed up on. Not only for the safety of the public, community, but animals involved as well. I mean just think if no one went out on a call, because they assumed that it was fabricated and it turned out to be serious. The community would be in an outrage (as they should be) and our organization frowned upon and now would have a lack of trust.

No, I think you missed the nail completely. It's sad because with your passion for protecting wildlife, your youth and vigour, you could perhaps be a person who makes a difference. Instead you copped out but continue to complain.

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If funding is the issue, then think of alternatives,

But you offer no suggestions. With your background in animal control you might have insight and experience others lack but you do not contribute it.

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hence why when I am done school, I will be looking for work outside of the province.

Like many others. Suck up the knowledge afforded to you here and take it elsewhere. I suppose you are wise to recognize your own limitations. It would take immense energy to rally support and work to fix what is broke and in the meantime it is doubtful you could work for the organization you are trying to fix. Like the rest of us I suppose you have to work to put food on the table. Or gee, you could poach.

Are you referring to my "fabricated" report in your last paragraph? If you will read it more carefully you will see it is in full agreement with your own of what should happen. And in my case DID happen. A C.O. did go out to the site. He followed up just as you would. However, he cannot lay a charge on someone else's say so.

Throughout these posts I have fully agreed with you that there is a problem. I don't see any suggestion of a remedy. Only blame casting which solves nothing. In case you are interested, yes, at the grass roots level our household does write letters to media and authority to protest or comment on local matters of the environment which affect us. I trust you do the same.

I actually am making a difference..I am working with a varity of organizations pretaining to wildlife issues...

It is hard to fix what is broken, when emails, telephone calls, etc go unnoticed. This tells me that they are not concerned in the first place or don't want to be proactive in issues that have risen..but i keep plugging away.

I think we can agree that omnr has dropped the ball and as of right now, no intention of picking it up.

I actually am making a difference..I am working with a varity of organizations pretaining to wildlife issues...

It is hard to fix what is broken, when emails, telephone calls, etc go unnoticed. This tells me that they are not concerned in the first place or don't want to be proactive in issues that have risen..but i keep plugging away.

I think we can agree that omnr has dropped the ball and as of right now, no intention of picking it up.

I personally think you have the drive and stamina to do whatever it is that you want. One thing for sure is that you have never sold yourself out to appease anyone's view whether for you or against you. To me, I think you will succeed in making those changes as you are determined and persistant. You may have youth on your side but you also have determination and good intentions. You are solid.

I say Go Girl. I think you are on the right track with your observations and your intentions.